Manatee Rebuild 1976

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Yes all voids where filled with epoxy mixed with glass. I think it should hold out but the test of time will tell. She is painted so we will see if she cracks at all but I think she will be ok. My guy is putting the boat stripe on this weekend I think that will realy make her look even better. I wlll post pictures when he is done.

 

[Mercs and such]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

what a great project! thats about the best paint job w/o sanding. or did you? anyways looking good and don't forget those wheel chocks for the trailer! its happened to mine before!

good luck!

mercs and such

1978 glastron sportster 115mercury

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Tonight painting the boat stripe. What a PIA to lay out a boot stripe on a planked boat. Ted was going nuts getting the tape just right. I have no abbility for such fine details so I manned the camera and became the goffer. I went for this and that all evening.

Laying out the stripe

The bow was the worst to get it just so. It took an Hour.

The paint was Brightside Hatteras off white. to mach the Deck.

That stripe change how the whole boat looks. She will have the bottom painted in Black. I cant wait each step we do now is a new WOW!

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Anyone know where I can get new Manufacture plates that go on the side of the boat? One is really faded and the other has been broken. It would be nice to have the name plate back on the boat.

Its a Manatee

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

I think you're pretty well out of luck on a manufacturers plate. However, I live in PA and I know we can fill out a form (or possibly send then the old plate, not sure) and they will create a nice shiney new capacities sticker for you.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

I do not need the capacity plate. I want the Manufactures name plate that goes on the stern of the boat. I guess I can have decals made but I like the idea of the plastic plates.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Ok new question. I want to add a bow roller to the boat so I can keep the anchor ready to go on the bow. I know I need to pipe ( not sure of the name) through the bow so I can store the line in a basket below the bow. I am thinking a milk crate would be a good for this so the line will dryout. I keep about a 100' of line and 8 foot of chain. If I install the anchor roller on the bow. Where should I move my navagational lights? I am thinking back below the port and starboard side right below the windows. I am a little worried if that will give me a good front view of the light. Any comments from those that have installed a bow roller on their boats and relocated the lights?

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Today the motor gets installed. What is the best calk to use for bolts below the water line? 4200? 5200? Boat life caulk? Thanks I dont want to have to install a transom again for a long long time!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

my vote would go to 4200

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

thanks ezmobee. I see you dont live far from me. I am in Baltimore. I read some of your post about being out on the Upper Chesapeke Bay. Thats where I do most of my boating. I grew up in Perryville and know the upper bay pretty well. If I ever get this project completed we will have to meet up one day this spring and do some boating. Maybe plan a day and boat up to the Flats.

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Motor didnt get installed today. We had enough work to just get all the hardware back on the boat and we ended up starting the bottom paint around the sides of the boat so we can have a bringing out over thanks giving to the rest of the family who has not seen the boat since I began the project. The black bottom paint on this red and white boat looks killer. I will post pictures soon didnt get a chance last night I was already in trouble because the wife made a nice Sunday Dinner and I was already about an hour over due. I am so luck to have Ted who has boat building experience to help me. He has taught me a Ton and Is responsible for how great this boat is turning out.

I have two more boats that need a rebuild behind this one so for the next 3 years I have my winter projects. The other two are blow boats so they should be a little easier.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Howdy neighbor....I'm going to reply to your post in the Chesapeake thread instead of here.....

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Today we showed the boat to family members. The bottom was painted black Tuesday evening and I love the contrast of the red sides and the black bottom with the white boot stripe. Ted is on the right he is 26 and is very good at doing anything around boats. I am on the left and I have learned to sand very very well. Ted gave me lots of practice. I am happy to say the painting for the most part is 99% painted. We will be moving soon to the inside of the boat for new carget and vinyl. This was taken today. I cant thank Ted enough for all his hard work and experience. He took a ugly boat and made it into a classic. Thanks Ted.

the boss looks over the project and wants it back in the water asap.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Paint job looks great!!!

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Damifudo,
Outstanding job, You should be proud to show that paint off now. If the interior comes out that good you will have a great looking boat that will last a long time.
The contrast is great too.
Great job.
Bob

 

[HookMaster]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Well today is paint day. I have sanded and sanded and sanded some more and I think she is ready to get her first coat of Perfection red. I am waiting for the weather to clear a little and I hope for calm winds. I am a little concerned about the roll and tip of a boat that has so many ridges but my paint guy says it will be fine. This boat has been ugly orange since day one. 1976 but the wife hates the orange even though I had the only orange boat on the chesapeke bay around here. You could spot her for miles. Now that my kids will be taking her out I still want her to be easy to see from a distance. I am very excited to see the new color on her. This has been a long slow process and another 150 dollars yesterday at the boat store.

Can you buy just the rubber inserts for rub rail? If so where? I would like to get about 12 feet.

Great looking job ! Mantee's are super boats. Killer heavy duty stringers and hull....

I believe this is the rub rail insert your rail takes.Same as my '78 Manatee.......
http://tacomarine.com/item--1-x-1-2-Flexible-Vinyl-Insert--V12-0338.html

Just thought you might find my project of some interest......
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,263,00.html

What year is the Merc ?

Don

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Thanks for all the postive comments. I am very happy with the boat and it is nice to get it where it is a boat again and not an anchor. I have been on this boat since new as my friends family bought it new in 1976. I was 15 at the time. We were trying to ski and doing it with some success on a 14 MFG with a 9.9 hp Mercury. Well when my friend got this boat we were in ski heaven. It had a 85 Hp Merc and fuel was about .40 cents a gallon. It cost about $ 7.00 to fill the Tank. The tank would last us most of the day. Oh wow they were the days. We would water ski from about 10 am till the sun set. I learned how to ski on this boat. In 1995 I bought the boat from my friends dad who had cancer. He sold it to me for $ 1000 and it was still in good shape but had a few soft spots in the floor. It aslo got repowered in 1984 with a new 115 Merc. About the time my friend went away to college. He was involved in a bad car accident and would never be able to ski again. The Merc was only used for site seeing and some fishing trips. It had very low hours when I bought it. In about 1999 the floor was shot. I cut the floor out of the boat and had a glass man install a new floor $ 1000 dollars. He installed it and said that floor will be a long long time before it needs another. It has been rock solid ever since. Now with a new Transom and 2of 3 of my kids knowing how to water ski I hope to get the 3rd skiing this spring. One day I hope this same boat is teaching my gand kids to ski as my son just turned 20. Who knows when but it will be ready when they come.


Don thanks for sharing your project. Wow lots of great ideas came from your project. I have new seats already but the rest is getting done and I think I will follow some of your steps to get the interior done. My best freind lives in New Port News. Not so far away from you I dont think?? I love to fish for strippers. Maybe we can get the Manatees together and bring home some strippers in the spring?

Ezmobee and Bobsglassstream thanks so much for your comments. Unless you been through one of these restores you have no idea how much work they are and how addicting they area also. I lay in bed thinking about the next steps and what I should be doing tommorow.

If anyone needs some boat work or fiberglass work and doesnt want to handle it all themselves contact me. My boat person Ted and now I consider a good friend is excellent and I highly recommend him. He is only 26 and I only wish I had his knowledge of boats at 26. I am not sure there is anything he couldnt handle when it comes to boats. He is a true boat person and lives aboard his Bristal he restored from being sunk.

Thanks all I will post the next pics of the engine being hung on her.

 

[HookMaster]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

If you are heading down this way give me a shout....My email is on my profile page.....

Great job !

Don

 

[Damifudo]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Ok I am going from a Merc. 115 to a Johnson 150. Both are 6 cyl and both running 3 carbs. The Merc was a 1984 and the Johnny is a 1996. Now my question is this. I have a 18 gal tank and I carry two 6 gal tanks under each seat. How much more gas will the Johnny burn than the Merc? will it be a big difference? I know the Merc was tunned by my Mechanic to burn pretty rich. He always told me it would make the engine last allot longer at the cost of fuel economy. Will 30 gal get me through a day of running around? With the 150 I know I will not be running it as hard as the 115. I run around 24 miles and hour. I hope to be running around 1/2 throttle.

Thanks for your opinions

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Manatee Rebuild 1976

Sounds like you're carrying around plenty of fuel to me.